POS1497 PREVALENCE OF SARCOPENIA IN WOMEN WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
Authors: E. Pena, R. Cavalheiro Do Espírito Santo, L. Dos Santos, L. Denardi Dória, S. Pilotti, D. Nóbrega de Moraes, A. L. Mallmann, A. A. Gasparin, V. Hax, T. Muniz Fighra, P. M. Spritzer, R. Chakr, R. Xavier, O. Monticielo
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease with multisystem involvement [1]. Organs and systems may be affected, such as the musculoskeletal system [1,2]. This inflammatory condition may lead to a decrease in strength and muscle mass [3]. Sarcopenia is considered a muscle disease that leads to decreased physical functionality, increased risk of falls, fractures, hospitalization and mortality [4,5]. The sarcopenia still needs to be better understood in SLE. Therefore, more studies are necessary to assess the sarcopenia prevalence and the impact on SLE patients. <h3>Objectives</h3> To assess the prevalence of sarcopenia in SLE patients and its associations with clinical parameters. <h3>Methods</h3> In this cross-sectional study, women with SLE (18 to 50 years old) were included. The following data were collected: disease duration, disease chronicity (SLICC/ACR-DI), disease activity (SLEDAI-2k), treatment regimen, quality of life (SLEQoL), physical activity level (IPAQ,min/week), muscle strength by handgrip test (kg) and chair stand tests (seconds), Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM;kg) was evaluated Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Sarcopenia diagnosis (handgrip &lt;16kg or chair stand tests &gt;15s + ASM &lt;15 kg) was based on the values indicated by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People-2 (EWGSOP2). Severity of sarcopenia was assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB ≤8 points) test. The descriptive analysis, Pearson's or Spearman's correlation coefficients, and Chi-squared test were performed. The significance was considered p&lt;0.05. <h3>Results</h3> Forty-nine patients were included [median age: 35.0 (28.0–43.5) years; median disease duration: 8.0 (4.0–14.5)] years. Chronicity and disease activity were low, being 0.0 (0.0-1.0) and 2.0 (0.0-4.0), respectively. The median of physical activity level by IPAQ was 583.60 (0.00–409.50) min/week. The majority of patients (83.7%) showed low physical activity level (IPAQ). The patients presented muscle strength by the handgrip test of 24.71±9.01 kg and 14.32±3.68s using the chair stand test. Eight patients (16.3%) showed low muscle strength by the handgrip test and twenty-four patients (49%) showed low muscle strength by the chair stand test. The mean of ASM was 17.03±2.32 kg. Ten patients (20.4%) had low muscle mass. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 16.3% following the EWGSOP2 criteria. On the other hand, we did not find severe sarcopenia. In addition, we did not find a relationship among sarcopenia and age, disease duration, disease chronicity, disease activity, cumulative corticosteroid dose, quality of life, and physical activity level (p&gt;0.05). <h3>Conclusion</h3> The prevalence of sarcopenia was 16.3% in patients with SLE. Almost half of our patients had low muscle strength in the chair stand test (49%) and only 16.3% had low muscle strength by handgrip test. Furthermore, sarcopenia is not associated with clinical parameters. Therefore, further studies should be developed to assess risk factors for sarcopenia in patients with SLE. <h3>References</h3> [1] Di Battista, et al.Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2018 Sep-Oct;36(5):763-777. [2] Fortuna G and Brennan MT. Dent Clin North Am 2013;57:631–55; [3] Cruz-Jentoft AJ, et al. Age Ageing 2019;48:16–31; [4] Alves de Araujo Silva T, et al. Etiological Aspects and Therapeutic Options. 2006. [5] Cawthon PM, et al. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2014 May;69(5):567-75. <h3> Acknowledgements</h3> We wish to thank the Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa e Eventos (FIPE) of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre and the research support fund of the Sociedade de Reumatologia do Rio Grande do Sul for the financial support. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.